On one of the most groundbreaking albums of 2016, Solange gave a pretty clear warning to folks who don’t understand Black hair: “Don’t Touch My Hair.”
Ironically, the Saint Records star found herself repeating this after The London Evening Standard cropped out part of her braided crown on the cover photo of the issue she stars in.
Solange posted the original photo above with the simple caption, DTMH @eveningstandardmagazine. During her interview with the publication, Solange discusses the importance of black hair, particularly in her family.
Braiding is important to Knowles. It is an ‘act of beauty, an act of convenience and an act of tradition’ — it is ‘its own art form,’ she adds. Every black woman has a personal journey with her own hair, and for Knowles it began in her mother’s salon which was a refuge — ‘a spare bedroom so to speak’ — for her as a young girl. Growing up there was pivotal. ‘I got to experience women arriving in one state of mind and leaving in a completely transformed way. It wasn’t just about the hair. It was about the sisterhood and the storytelling. Being a young girl who was really active in dance, theatre and on the swim team, the salon was a kind of safe haven.’
Considering the very topic of the interview, it comes off even more disrespectful that this publication would alter her hair for the cover. Angelica Bastien who is credited for reporting the story has since denounced her involvement with it via Twitter:
I am publicly disowning the Solange piece London Evening Standard published today. The entire piece was a fiasco despite my efforts.
— Angelica Jade (@angelicabastien) October 19, 2017
Bastien went on to say she wasn’t comfortable with some of the rewriting that her editors did to the story, so she will do everything she can to clear her name. Despite how messy this story turned out to be, we have to give kudos to Joanne Petit-Frere for creating this breathtaking style and to Solange for being ever so creative with her look.
Apology, or Not! Solanges’ Hair should’ve Never been Touched! Period!
One hour’s sleep before midnight is worth two after.